SINCE NINE Book 2: Reunited

No Measurement

CHAPTER 13

Victoria woke up on Ramcel’s bed the next day. 10AM na ayun sa wall clock ng kwarto. Medyo nasilaw pa sya sa liwanag ng araw na nanggagaling sa bintana. May bahagyang kirot sa sintido nya. Naparami nga sya ng inom kagabi. Habang nag-uusap sila ni Alexa, nagsend pala ito ng message kay Ramcel na sunduin sya dahil lasing na sya.

Inalalayan sya ni Ramcel habang lumalabas ng bar. Papara na sana ito ng cab para makauwi sila pero niyaya nya itong uminom ng kape. May malapit na Starbucks sa pinanggalingan nilang bar kaya doon sila pumunta. Victoria bought a strong coffee and her mind cleared after few minutes.

“Sorry. Hindi ka na dapat inabala ni Alexa.” Alam ni Victoria na busy ito sa trabaho. Nasa Studio 11 ito at may tinatapos na script kaya hindi ito nakasama sa kanila sa bar.

“Kahit kelan hindi ka naging abala sakin, Vi,” Ramcel said kindly. Hinawakan nito ang kamay nya. “May problema ba?” Her beautiful grayish eyes were fixed on Victoria’s face worriedly.  “I’m not just your lover, I’m your bestfriend too. You can tell me anything.”

It took all of Victoria’s will power not to pull Ramcel and kiss her in a coffee shop full of people. Ramcel had always been her source of joy. Kahit nung mga bata pa sila. She liked holding her hands or being near her. Whenever she’s with Ramcel, she felt at ease. Victoria could tell her anything effortlessly.

Victoria took a deep breath and told Ramcel what’s been bugging her. Ramcel just listened without letting go of her hand and didn’t interrupt her. She told Ramcel about her fear, her anxiety of her going back to the Philippines, and her guilt for not accepting her marriage proposal.

“I guess I’m so overwhelm with all of your gestures. With your kindness. And I feel like I don’t love you enough to measure up to the love you’ve been giving me,” Victoria said truthfully.

Ramcel lifted Victoria’s hands and kissed them. “When it comes to love, there should be no measurement, Vi. Everyone deserves to love and be loved. I am just giving you the love that you deserve. There’s no need for you to feel guilty because you deserve it, Vi. And I know….and I feel that you love me too. And that’s enough for me.” Titig na titig ito sa mga mata nya. “About my proposal, I am so sorry about that. Well, I’m not sorry for wanting to marry you. But it was very selfish of me. Sarili ko lang ang inisip ko. I guess, ayaw na kitang pakawalan pa, ngayong akin ka na.” Ramcel smiled shyly. “I still want to marry you, pero dapat gusto natin pareho. Kung ayaw mo talaga, as long as we are together, kuntento na ako dun.”

Hindi na mapigilan ni Victoria ang sarili. She leaned forward and kissed Ramcel’s lips. Wala na syang pakialam kung pagtinginan sila ng mga tao. 

“I love you too, Vi. Always remember that. Wala kang dapat ikatakot. Babalik ako rito,” Ramcel assured her. Sinabi kasi rito ni Victoria na kahit ayaw nya itong umalis, hindi nya hahadlangang matupad ang mga pangarap nito.

“Huwag kang titingin sa ibang babae dun ah!” May pagbabanta nyang sabi na ikinatawa ni Ramcel. “I’m serious. You’re not allowed to see any of your old flings. Bawal  kang lumandi. Kapag may nagbigay ng drinks sayo, huwag mong iinumin. Baka may gayuma yun.”

“Yes, Baby. I promise,” Ramcel tried to say it in her serious tone but couldn’t supressed her smile when Victoria continued to glare at her. “Why don’t you come with me? Have a vacation. You can see Jenny and go out of town.”

Napaisip sya. Mula nang lisanin nila ng Mama nya ang Pilipinas, hindi na sila kailanman bumalik. Wala na kasi silang pamilyang uuwian doon. Matagal ng patay ang mga magulang ng Mama nya. May mga malalayong kamag-anak sila pero hindi sya close sa mga ito.